Exposed brake cables

[Mark White]

Back in the day, my bikes would have a full length of outer cable from the levers to the callipers, whereas my new shiny thing has about 18" between lever and top tube, then runs exposed to back of the top tube near the seat tube, then has 12" of outer from there to the callipers.

Water and sweat gets in to the outer cable near the callipers, and I'm now popping the callipers and oiling the inner after every clean as the back brake has started to seize otherwise. Maybe this is just standard nowadays, but I'm surprised at this happening after just 6 months.

So why the exposed section instead of one long outer cable? Is it just aesthetics or is there a technical reason?

Just idly wondering...

 

[Pale Rider]

A few guesses:

Looks neater than long sections of outers fixed somehow to the tubes.

Slightly lighter.

A bit cheaper to make.

 

[the_mikey]

Easier to replace and maintain too.

 

[simon.r]

You can run full length outers if you want to, just cable tie them to the guides. Doesn't look pretty tho'!

The other option is to drill out the guides. Awkward, but do-able.

 

[summerdays]

I use jag wire cables on my bike. The bike came with them and I just buy a new set when I need them, and don't have to do much to the cables in between times.

 

[raleighnut]

Bung a blob of Vaseline on the exposed cable at each end. PS my 1968 Carlton Clubman has an exposed rear brake cable run

 

[Paul.G.]

Back in the day, my bikes would have a full length of outer cable from the levers to the callipers, whereas my new shiny thing has about 18" between lever and top tube, then runs exposed to back of the top tube near the seat tube, then has 12" of outer from there to the callipers.

Water and sweat gets in to the outer cable near the callipers, and I'm now popping the callipers and oiling the inner after every clean as the back brake has started to seize otherwise. Maybe this is just standard nowadays, but I'm surprised at this happening after just 6 months.

So why the exposed section instead of one long outer cable? Is it just aesthetics or is there a technical reason?

Just idly wondering...

Its to reduce loss of braking force as the outer cable compresses as you pull the levers, less outer cable, the better braking.

 

[S.Giles]

I'm a fan of stainless steel brake and gear cables. I have a mixture on my bike, and the stainless one is noticeably shinier and is corrosion-free. This should translate into better functioning, one would think.

BTW, the corroded cables were purchased (from Amazon, I think) as stainless steel, but turned out not to be. Obviously, there is a scammer out there!

Steve

 

[I like Skol]

When I bought my GT hybrid I was a bit surprised to see the 'retrograde' full length cable outer for the rear mech gear cable. However, 3 years and 9000 miles later I am still on the original cable inner and outer. It has been pulled out once in the mean time for a blast of GT85 through the outer and a light lube on the inner so I have to question is this full length outer really an old school downgrade?

 

[Mark White]

Thanks for all of the answers :-) There's a few good ideas on why they are as they are, but I'm not too bothered about replacing them at this stage, so I'll probably go with the blob of vaseline as a quick fix to keep the grot out. There are some little rubber washer thingies on the exposed cable that look like they should butt up to the final length of outer, so I'll get into the habit of making sure they're in place too.

Cheers all!

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks for all of the answers :-) There's a few good ideas on why they are as they are, but I'm not too bothered about replacing them at this stage, so I'll probably go with the blob of vaseline as a quick fix to keep the grot out. There are some little rubber washer thingies on the exposed cable that look like they should butt up to the final length of outer, so I'll get into the habit of making sure they're in place too.

Cheers all!

The washer thingies are to stop the cable pinging on the frame and wearing the paint off.

 

[Mark White]

The washer thingies are to stop the cable pinging on the frame and wearing the paint off.

Ah. so they should be spread out a bit across the exposed cable? Thanks for the heads up

 

[summerdays]

There are the donuts that usually are on the exposed cable running along the top tube, and there is also a rubber boot (?), that is on the end of the noodle (curved metal tube), on V-brakes. There is also a small rubber boot thing at the end of the rear gear cable (well there is on mine).